Bareback Anal Sex with an HIV-Positive Partner

Jun 19, 2012

I am HIV-negative and I'm going to be having anal sex with a guy who is HIV-positive. He doesn't want me to wear a condom and he wants me to ejaculate inside him. I'd prefer to wear a condom but may I ask: what are the risks of acquiring HIV if I did not wear a condom and ejaculated inside of him?

Response from Mr. Glenn

Thanks so much for your question,

If you're having unprotected sex with someone who you know is HIV positive, there is a risk of getting HIV. Even if you're the top, there still is risk. There's relatively less risk than if you were the bottom that's for sure though, but condom use is definitely advised.

Since you're telling me that you prefer to wear a condom to keep yourself safe, part of this conversation is about how to make sure that you're able to have the kind of sex you want, the way you want, and in the healthiest way you can.

In addition to condom use though, there are other ways to keep yourself safe:

- talking with your partner beforehand to make sure you're on the same page

- if your partner is HIV positive, having an undetectable viral load and no recent STDs can make it harder to get/give HIV

There are many other options listed in our archives, check them out!

Ultimately the decision is up to you on how to proceed. You're in a good position because you are getting more information about how to keep yourself safe.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.